Category Archives: Professional Development

Guess what! Post-interview thank you notes make a difference in how job candidates are judged. Natalie Lundsteen, in her post “Standing Out After the Interview,” notes results from a survey of recruiters and hiring managers “that thank-you notes definitely affect their hiring decisions.” She also provides examples of simple thank-you messages and additional survey statistics. Read the full article HERE.

Cover letter tips, words to use like inventive, tenacious, collaborate, and many more….help lift your cover letter to a higher level. In a post by Andy Talajkowski, “15 Words That’ll Drastically Improve Your Cover Letter,” learn more about words and phrases in a cover letter that will set you apart and demonstrate your unique qualifications. Read the full article HERE.

If you were to remove one word from your resume, experts say you could strengthen it immediately. That word? “Helped.” Ruth Umoh explains the reasoning behind this, and provides suggestions on what to do instead. Read her full article HERE.

Seldom does a job interview end without the (often dreaded) question, “What is your greatest weakness?” or “What is your biggest negative quality?” Regardless of how it is worded, you can be prepared. Sylvia Giltner, in her article, “Good Negative Qualities to Say During an Interview,” has provided some direction in how to answer this type of question, including mistakes to avoid. Read the full article HERE.

Did you know if you got the job when you walked out of the interview? Did you find out the next steps in the hiring process?

Check out Lisa Quast’s post on the Forbes website, “Job Seekers: How To Close An Interview With Class.” She provides examples of how you can professionally close a job interview and get a better idea on where you stand in the hiring process.

Quast also mentions a post-interview Thank You note (always a great idea), and practicing interview questions before you go into the interview.

The after-interview wait can be nerve-wracking. But there are actions you can take to make sure you don’t drop the communications ball. In an article by Paul McDonald, “A Top Recruiter Explains Why You’re Hearing Crickets After a Job Interview,” he gives a few reasons why you might not have been contacted yet, plus tips to stay engaged while you’re waiting.

A hiring manager who sees over 400,000 resumes a year provides tips to making your application stand out! Yvonne Agyei of Booking.com shared the following tips with Els van Asseldonk in the article, “7 Ways to Make Your Job Application Stand Out…”